Town Administration
The town's Department of Veterans' Services provides guidance and assistance regarding eligibility for federal VA benefits but is only authorized to administer benefits under Massachusetts General Laws.

Definitions
A "veteran" under MGL c. 115 is defined as follows:

Any person, (a) whose last discharge or release from wartime service…was under honorable conditions and who (b) served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Air Force of the United States, or on full-time National Guard duty… for not less than 90 days active service, at least 1 day of which was for wartime service

Any person who so served in wartime and was awarded a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable if less than 90 days' active service was completed

A member of the American Merchant Marine who served in armed conflict between December 7 1941, and December 31, 1946, and who has received honorable discharges from the United States Coast Guard, Army, or Navy

Any person who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Air Force of the United States for not less than 180 days active service.

Wartime Service
'Wartime service' shall mean service performed by a:

Spanish War veteran:

Between February 15, 1898 and July 4, 1902

World War I veteran:

Between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918,

Has been awarded the World War I Victory Medal

Performed such service between March 25, 1917, and August 5, 1917, as a Massachusetts National Guardsman

World War II veteran:

Between September 16, 1940, and July 25, 1947, and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal

Korean veteran:

Between June 25, 1950, and January 31, 1955

Any person who has received the Korea Defense Service Medal

Vietnam veteran:

Between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975

Any person who served at least 180 days of active service in the armed forces of the United States during the period between February 1, 1955, and August 4, 1964

Any person who served in the armed forces during this period and was awarded a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, or who died under conditions other than dishonorable even if 180 days active service were not completed

Lebanese Peace-keeping Force veteran:

Between August 25, 1982, and ending when the President has withdrawn armed forces from Lebanon

Received a campaign medal for such service

Grenada Rescue-mission veteran:

Between October 25, 1983, and December 15, 1983

Received a campaign medal for such service

Panamanian Intervention Force veteran:

Between December 20, 1989, and January 31, 1990

Received a campaign medal for such service

Persian Gulf veteran:

Between August 2, 1990, and ending on a date to be determined by Presidential proclamation or executive order and concurrent resolution of the Congress of the United States

WAAC:

Any woman who was discharged and served in any corps or unit of the United States established for the purpose of enabling women to serve with or as auxiliary to the armed forces of the United States.

"Active service" shall not include active duty for training in the Army National Guard or Air National Guard or as a reservist in the armed forces of the United States.